Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 20 158
Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), funding opportunity number PAR 20-158, is a discretionary NIH grant program in the health category (CFDA 93.855) focused on early-stage, discovery-oriented HIV vaccine research. The central aim is to push forward unconventional or unproven vaccine concepts that could ultimately prevent HIV acquisition or help block ongoing infection, with an emphasis on ideas that are high risk but potentially transformative if they work. This FOA is meant to fuel innovation at the discovery phase rather than support later-stage product development or clinical evaluation, and it explicitly does not allow clinical trials under this mechanism.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its Go/No-Go funding structure, which is intentionally different from a typical R01. Applicants are expected to propose ambitious, exploratory research where outcomes are uncertain, but where the potential payoff could be substantial for the HIV vaccine field. To manage that risk, the award is structured around clear, negotiated milestones: by the end of Year 2, the project must meet agreed Go/No-Go criteria. Continued funding for the remainder of the project period depends on achieving those criteria, meaning investigators need to design their approach so that critical feasibility or proof-of-concept questions can be answered early and decisively.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not operating as institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations. In practice, this means the program is open to a wide range of institutions capable of conducting rigorous biomedical discovery research, including international groups whose expertise or resources are important for HIV vaccine innovation.
The funding instrument is a grant under the R01 mechanism, and the opportunity was created on March 31, 2020, with an original closing date listed as July 28, 2022. While the provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the main operational takeaway is that applicants should plan for milestone-driven management: articulate what success looks like by Year 2, how it will be measured, and why those interim results will justify continued investment. Overall, the FOA is designed to accelerate bold HIV vaccine discovery ideas by pairing the flexibility of an R01 with a disciplined, milestone-based decision point that can quickly advance the most promising directions and stop approaches that do not meet early proof-of-concept benchmarks.Apply for PAR 20 158
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-07-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Innovation for HIV Vaccine Discovery (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAR 20-158.
Which federal agency is offering this grant program?
This is a discretionary grant program offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the CFDA number and program area?
The opportunity is in the health category under CFDA 93.855.
What type of grant mechanism is used?
The funding instrument is a grant using the R01 mechanism.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. This FOA explicitly states Clinical Trial Not Allowed, meaning clinical trials are not permitted under this mechanism.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The central aim is to support early-stage, discovery-oriented HIV vaccine research that advances unconventional or unproven vaccine concepts that could ultimately prevent HIV acquisition or help block ongoing infection.
What kind of research does NIH want to encourage through this opportunity?
This FOA is designed to push forward high-risk, potentially transformative ideas at the discovery phase, especially concepts that are unconventional or unproven but could meaningfully move the HIV vaccine field forward if successful.
Is this opportunity intended for later-stage development or clinical evaluation?
No. The FOA is meant to fuel innovation at the discovery phase rather than support later-stage product development or clinical evaluation.
What makes this R01 different from a typical R01?
A defining feature is the Go/No-Go funding structure. Investigators are expected to propose ambitious, exploratory research with uncertain outcomes, paired with clear milestones and decision criteria that determine whether the project continues beyond an early checkpoint.
What does "Go/No-Go" mean in the context of this FOA?
"Go/No-Go" refers to a milestone-based decision point built into the award. By the end of Year 2, the project must meet agreed Go/No-Go criteria. Continued funding for the remainder of the project period depends on achieving those criteria.
When do projects need to meet the Go/No-Go criteria?
Projects are expected to meet negotiated Go/No-Go criteria by the end of Year 2.
What happens if a project does not meet the Year 2 Go/No-Go milestones?
The FOA indicates that continued funding for the remainder of the project period is dependent on meeting the Year 2 criteria. If the criteria are not achieved, the project may not receive continued support beyond that point.
What should applicants focus on when designing their research plan?
Applicants should design their approach so that critical feasibility or proof-of-concept questions can be answered early and decisively, and they should clearly define what success looks like by Year 2 and how it will be measured.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, as well as certain international entities. The FOA is open to a wide range of institutions capable of conducting rigorous biomedical discovery research.
Are state, county, or local governments eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments, as well as special district governments.
Are schools and higher education institutions eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
Are housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (when not operating as institutions of higher education).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses.
Does the FOA encourage applications from specific institution types?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA lists eligible federal agencies among additional eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among additional eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations as eligible applicants, reflecting openness to international groups with relevant expertise or resources for HIV vaccine innovation.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on March 31, 2020.
What is the original closing date listed for this FOA?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is July 28, 2022.
Does the provided information state an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the key operational takeaway for applicants?
Applicants should plan for milestone-driven management: clearly articulate what success looks like by Year 2, how it will be measured, and why those interim results will justify continued investment for the remainder of the project period.
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